Folding-machine.



Patented Mir. !3, 1900.

No. 645,l73.

I 0. LANDRY. FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 30, 1899.)

7 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

WTNEEEEEI Dim 645,173. Patented Mar. l3, I900. 0. LANDBY.

FOLDlNG MACHINE.

(Application filed June 30, 1899.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

\A/IT NEEEEE.

TE alhk/ENTEIR No. 645,l73.

' 0. LANDRY.

FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filgd June 30, 1899.)

Patented Man. l3, I900.

7 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(lIo Modal.)

INVENT [IR 4%... W

No. 645.03. Patented mama, I900.

o. LANDRY.

FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 30, 1899.)

, (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

No. 645,!73. Patented Mar. 13, 1900. 0. LANDRY.

FOLDING MACHINE.

(Applicatian filed June 81.)Y 1899.)

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

m: "paws mans ca, PHoTouTNQrwAsumn'roN, D. c,

No. 645,173. Patented Mar. I3, I900.

. U. LANDRY.

FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application fild June 80, 1899.)

7 Shoots-Shoat 6.

(No Model.)

\NVENTUR yaw M AH 5% E. .M W KM No. 645,l73. Patented Mar. I3, I900.

' 0 LANDRY FOLDING MACHINE, (Application filed June 30, 1899.)

7 Sheets-Shoot 7.

(No Model.)

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER LANDRY, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Rid 645,173, dated March13, 1960. Application filed June 30, 1899. $erial No. 722,473. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLIVER LANDRY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for folding, turning,and pressing the edges of fabric blanks for collars, cuffs,shirt-trimmings, and analogous articles preparatory to the uniting ofsaid edges.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine, economical inconstruction and simple and effective in operation, that will infold theedges of the blanks with precision and uniformity and at the same timeproduce a locked corner with a neat finished appearance.

The invention also seeks to do rapidly with a single movement what isnow done slowly by hand.

These objects are attained by the use of the mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawings; and the invention consists in certain novelfeatures of the same, which will be hereinafter first fully described,and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings to which reference has just been made, Figure 1 is aplan view of the preferred form of a machine embodying my invention, thedie plate and a portion of the pressure-arm's being removed. Fig. 2 isavertical section taken on the line m x of Fig. 1 and looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows. Fig. 3is a vertical section taken onthe line cc :t'of Fig. 1 and looking in the di rection indicated by thearrow. Fig. l is a plan View with the end-folder fingers thrown towardeach other over the edges of the dieplate. Fig. 5 is a similar Viewshowing the end. finger-folders moved longitudinally toward theside-folders. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section showing the pressure-armsbearing on the folders. Fig. 7 isa detail perspective view of one of theplates upon which the end-folding devices are mounted. Fig. 8 is adetail perspective view of the main operating-slide. Fig. 9 is a detailview of one of the end-folder plates, the cap-piece being removed. Fig.10 is a detail view of the cappiece of the end-folder. Fig. 11 is a planview of the fabric blank. Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the blank asit appears after Y being acted upon by the finger-folders. Fig. 13 is asimilar View showing the blank after its edge has been completelyfolded. Fig. 14 is a detail view of the slide which operates theend-folding devices, and Fig. 15 is a detail view of one of thefinger-folders.

In carrying out my invention I employ a framework consisting of legs L,to the upper ends of which is secured a table T, the central portion Fof the table forming a bed on which the folding operation is performed.On the upper side of the table, at the ends of the same, I secure thebase-plates P, on which the end folding devices are mounted. Thesebase-plates are adjustably secured to the table by the bolts to,inserted through slotsV in the plates, whereby the plates may be readilyand accurately adjusted according to the size of the fabric blank to befolded. The inner edges of these plates P are cut away at their centralportions, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, to accommodate the slidingend-folders, and on the upper side of the plates, registering with theedges of the cut-away portions, are secured the ways or guidesO At theouter corners of the plates, as at p, I pivot the angle-levers V, whichhave their longer arms extended just beyond the inner edges of theplates and pivoted to'the outer corners of the finger-folders f, theshorter arms of the levers being pivoted to the outer ends of levers Zwhich are pivoted on the plates at 19 adjacent to the ways 0 Thefinger-folders lie normally close against the inner edges of the platesP, and they are held in this normal position by the springs R, which aresecured to the folders and the plates, as clearly shown and as will bereadily understood. The inner end of the folder is cut away at one side,so as to fit around the corner of the end-folder plate, and thisconstruction presents a finger 2, adapted to be projected over the edgeof the blank and make the initial fold. The inner portion of the lever Zis formed into an inwardly-curved arm 0, the end of which is adapted toengage a notched slide or plunger, as will be presently moreparticularly described.

Resting on the base-plate and adapted to their work. The inner edge ofthe cap is formed with a recess 4:, registering with a recess 3 in theedge of the plate 6, both said recesses corresponding in shape to theoutline of the end of the fabric blank. A pivot-pin r is insertedthrough the lug r and the ears 5, formed on a plunger or slide 0, topivot the plate 2 to said plunger and at the same time permit a slightplay on the pivot. The cars 5 are formed on a horizontal enlargement Oof the plunger, in the side edges of which are notches n, which areengaged by the ends of the curved arms 0. The inner corners of the arms0 and of the notches n are square,while the outer corners of the sameare curved, as

shown, so that when the plunger is moving outward the lever cannot bedisengaged therefrom, but will act as a lock to limit its movement,while on the inward movement of the plunger the circular movement of thelever will disengage it from the plunger. The plunger, it will be seenat once, is thus permitted to move inward slightly after it has ceasedto act on the lever.

Bifurcated arms or brackets 6 are formed on or secured to the under sideof the table and project beyond the sides and ends of the same, asclearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6. Fulcrumed in the end arms orbrackets 6 at f are levers 02, having their upper ends piv oted, as at dto the outer ends of the plungers O, and their lower ends pivoted, as ata, to the outer ends of pitmen j*, which pass through bifurcations A inthe supportingarms G, depending from the table, and have their innerends provided with rollers 20", bearing against the main operatingsliding cam K. Coiled springs h, secured to the pitmen, and the arms Gserve to hold the pitmen in constant contact with the said sliding camK.

On the table, at the centers of the side edges of the same, are theslidable plates e fitted between the guides m secured transversely onthe table. The inner portions of the slidable plates are slightlyraised, so as to extend over the side-folders or folding-plates S, whichare adjustably secured thereto through the slots n On the upper side ofeach plate e is a lug b, to which the inner end of. a link C is pivoted,the outer end of said link being. pivoted to the upper end of a lever d,fulcrumed, as at f, in a side bracket 6 and having its lower endpivoted, as at f to a pitman j. The pitman is similar in all respects tothe pitmanj having a roller 20 at its inner end and being held incontact with the operating sliding cam K by a coiled spring h, which inthis instance is attached to the lever d instead of to the pitman, asshown in Fig. 2.

The side and end pressure-arms J J are curved levers having the samefulcrums in the brackets 6 as the levers at d, the pressure arms orlevers being slotted, as shown at s, to pass around the levers d d andpermit the free action of the same. longer arms of the pressure-leversare pivoted, as at g and 9 to the extensible links M M, having theirinner ends pivoted, as at g and If, to ears t on the main sliding cam K.Depending centrally from the table is a post or guide N, upon which thesliding operatingcam K is mounted. This cam is connected by a link it toa treadle B, which is held normally in a raised position by a coiledspring m, attached to the treadle and to the frame ofthe machine. Thesliding cam K consists of a sleeve, preferably rectangular to preventrotation, provided with lugs or ears 2% to receive the links M M andhaving' inclined ribs or cam-surfaces Z Z above said lugs, the ribs Zbeing longer than the ribs Z, so that the end levers will be set inmotion before-the side-levers are actuated.

The edges of the several folders are suitably beveled, so as to readilyengage the edge of the blank and ride over the edge of the die-plate.

The die-plate D corresponds in outline to the article to be formed andis made integral with or secured rigidly to the end of a curved arm A,having a handle H and fulcrumed on a pivot-pin Y, mounted in arms '7,projecting rearwardly from the table. A counterweight W is providedbeyond the pivot-pin in order to hold the arm and the die-plate in anyposition in which they may be left by the operator.

I designates a heating-pipe to heatthe table and the several folders,thus materially aiding the turning and pressing of the fabric.

It is thought the operation of the device will be readily understoodfrom the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings. The fabric blank is placed on the folding-bed and thedie-plate brought down, so as to hold the same firmly. The treadle isthen depressed by the operator, thereby lowering the operating-cam slideK and causing the cam-ribs thereon to force outward the pitmen jj andconsequently vibrate the levers. cl d, so as to operate the side and endfolders. In order to successfully infold the edges andform a lockedcorner with a neat finished appearance, it is necessary to start a foldat the ends of the sides of the blanks before the folding proper isstarted. To accomplish thisresult, the ribs Z are longer than the ribsl, and thefinger-folders f are employed. The greater length of the ribscauses the lovers d and the plunger 0 to move inward slightly before thelevers d and the plates e with the side-folders, act. The pin- The lowerand-slot connection between the plunger and the plate e permits the saidplunger to move inward before acting on the plate. This initial movementof the plunger carries the ends of the lever-arms c inward, therebyvibrating the levers Z 1 and causing the finger-folders f to move towardeach other to the position shown in Fig. 4. The continued inwardmovement of the plunger carries it beyond the range of the lever-arms,consequently disengaging the said arms, and sets the end-folder plate 6in motion. The plate e impinges against the edge of the fingerfolder, sothat as it continues to move inward it will cause the said fingers toswing on their pivotal connections with the levers Z ,as shown in Fig.5. The movement of the finger-folders forms the fold shown in Fig. 12,and the complete fold, as shown in Fig. 13, is formed by the action ofthe side-folders S and the end-folder plates e in engaging the edge ofthe blank and forcing the same against and over the edge of thedie-plate. The side and end pressure arms are set in motionsimultaneously with the initial movement of the main cam K, and theyshould be so adjusted by means of the extensible links that they willcome down onto the folder-plates just as the said plates reach the innerlimit of their movement. The pressure then applied by thesepressure-arms serves to crease the fold and make it permanent. Uponreleasing the treadle the springs m and it return the several levers totheir initial positions. The die-plate is then raised and the blankremoved. As the end-folding plate moves outward the springs R hold thefingers f against the inner edge of the plate and cause the fingers tofollow the movement of the plate until they assume the position shown inFig. 4. The springs then tend to draw the fingers toward the sides ofthe table; but this movement is resisted by the lever-arms 0 bearingagainst the sides of the enlargement O of the plunger. As soon, however,as the continued movement of the plunger brings the notches n oppositethe ends of the said lever-arms the springs R instantly throw thefingers outward and the lever-arms into engagement with said notches,bringing the parts into their initial positions. (Shown in Fig.- 1.) Thedescribed operation of folding may then be repeated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. The finger-folder f having its inner or front end provided with abeveled folding edge, having its outer front corner cut away in avertical plane to form a notched edge, and provided with a pivot-holenear its rear end, substantially as described and for the purposesherein specified.

2. The operating-cam K having lugs and cam-ribs Z Z above the lugs, theribs Z being longer than the ribs Z.

3. In a collar-folding machine, the combination with thesupporting-frame, and the folders mounted thereon, of pivot or fulcrumpins ,at the sides of the supporting-frame, pressure-levers adapted tobear upon the folders mounted on said pivot-pins and having longitudinalslots, folder-operatin g levers mounted on the fulcrum-pins within thelongitudinal slots of the pressure-levers, and means for actuating allsaid levers.

4.. In a machine of the character described, the combination of abase-plate, a fingerfolder resting against the edge of the baseplate, aslidable end-folder plate mounted on said base-plate and bearing againstthe edge of the finger-folder and thereby adapted to actuate saidfinger-folder, and suitable operating mechanism.

5. The combination of a base-plate, a finger-folder resting againsttheedge of said plate, a slidable folder-plate mounted on the base-plateand bearing against the edge of the finger-folder, a cap-plate securedon the said folder-plate and projecting over the end of thefinger-folder, and suitable operating mechanism.

6. The combination of a finger-folder, an

end-folder plate, a spring holding the finger folder in its normalposition, a plunger hav-' ing a pin-and-slot connection with theendfolder plate, a system of levers connected to the finger-folder andadapted to be engaged by the plunger, and means for reciprocating thesaid plunger.

7. The combination with the table and a base-plate thereon, of aslidable end-folder plate mounted on the base-plate, a fingerfolderresting loosely on the table against-the edge of the base-plate, aspring holding the finger-folder normally against the edge of thebase-plate, a system of levers fulcrumed on the base-plate and having apivotal engagement with the outer end of the finger-folder, a plungerhaving a pin-and-slot connection with the end-folder plate and providedwith a notch in its side edge adapted to engage the end of the leversystem and actuate the same during a portion of its movement, and meansfor reciprocating the plunger.

8. The combination of the side and end folders, levers connectedtherewith, a vertically-reciprocatin g slide having cam-faces arrangedin pairs of unequal length, pitmen connected to said levers and bearingagainst the said cam-faces, pressure-levers, and links pivoted to thepressure-levers and to the slide below the cam-faces.

OLIVER LANDRY. W'itnesses:

WILLIAM W. Wool), H. JUDD WARD.

